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P. P. sGHLoss-BR. ELECTRIC RAILWAY SIGNAL.

(No Model.)

@Miou/w13 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK P. SCHLOSSER, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR, BYk DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE F. P. SCHLOSSER ELECTRIC SIGNAL AND ALARM COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 488,615, dated December 27, 1892. Application filed June 21, 1892. Serial No. 437,442. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK P. SCHLossER, a resident of Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Railway-Signals; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,'such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains 1o to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in electric railroad signals,-its object being to produce simple and efficient devices whereby the engineer of one train can, by means of devices located on the train, be notified of the approach of another train and thus prevent the collision of trains.

A further object is to so construct and arrange the devices that the engineer of one zo train will be notified of the proximity of another train running in either direction on the same track. Y v

A further object is to produce a device for the purpose stated which shall be simple,

2 5 cheap to manufacture, easy to apply and which shall be effectual in the performance of its functions.

With these object in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction 3o and combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter set forth and pointed out inV the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view of a portion of a track, showing the arrangement of the conductors between the rails. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical view showing the arrangements of parts and circuits, with two trains running in reverse directions. Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the arrange- 4o ment of parts and circuits with two trains on the same track, one standing still and the other running toward the standing train from the rear. Fig. 4 is a view of a modification. A, A, represent the main rails of the track, between which are located, three rails or conductors l, 2,3/ Carried by the train (preferably the fender at the forward end of the locomotive) are vthree wheels 4, 5, 6, which are adapted to make electrical contact with the rails 1, 2, 3. The wheels 4, 5, may be carried by the same shaft or mantle so that they will be electrically connected together, while the wheel 6 may be carried by a separate shaftv so as to have no electrical connection with the wheels 4, 5. If desired the conductors 1, 2,3, may be arranged closer together than shown in Fig. 1 (say four inches apart) and the wheels 4, 5, 6 arranged on a single shaft, the Wheel 6 being, of course, electrically insulated from the wheels 4, 5. 6o On each train a battery B is located, one pole of which is connected with the wheel 6 and the other pole with one end of the coil of an electric rheotome or vibrating bell C. The other end of said coil is connected with the wheel 5. By means of the construction and arrangement of circuits and'devices aslabove described when two trains running in different directions on the same track, approach sufiiciently toward each other thebells in both engines will be automatically thrownlinto circuit with the batteries B and both bells will therefore be caused to sound, thus notifying the engineers that the two trains are approahing each other on thesame track and giving them time to reverse their engines. The bat-- teries will be of such strength that a currentsu'iicient to sound the bells will flow over the conductors when the trains are about three miles apart.

If desired, the conductors may be divided into sections of from three to ten miles in lengthv as occasion may require, so that the path of theI electric current between trains may not be longer than necessary.

On each train the positive pole of the battery is preferably connected with the wheel or contact 6 and the negative pole is connected with the bell C, the latter being connected with the wheel 5. With the parts connected when two trains approach each other, both in this man ner,two circuits will be established circuits including the central conductor 2. As rheotome bells are employed each circuit is rapidly made and broken. Thus when the circuit which passes through the bell at the right of Fig. 1 of the drawings, is closed, the ,current will pass from the battery B to the wheel or contact 6 thence over the conductor 3 to the Wheel 4 on the approaching train from which it will pass to the wheel 5, then over the central conductor 2, through the bell on the train at the right of Fig. l, to the negative pole of the battery from which it started. Now when the circuit just described is broken by the bell at the right of Fig. l, the circuit through the battery and bell on the approaching train shown at the left of Fig. 2 (which was open when the above described circuit was closed), will be closed and the current will flow from the battery B on the train at the left of Fig. 2, to the wheel 6, thence over the conductor l to the wheel 4f of the other train, thence to the wheel 5 and thence back over the central conductor 2, thence to the bell on the train at the left of Fig. 2 and finally to the negative pole of the battery from which it started. Both circuits therefore include the central conductor, but the currents pass over said central conductor alternately in opposite directions. That is to say,--when one bell closes the circuit, the current passes over the central conductor in one direction and when said bell opens its circuit, the other circuit is closed by the other bell and the current passes over the central conductor in the opposite direction.

It has been demonstrated by experiment that to employ two conductors such as l 'and 3, and two rheotome bells in the circuit, the operation of one bell will seriously affect the the other bell, there being two circuit breakers in the same circuit, and the proper operation of the signals will be rendered uncertain and doubtful. In fact, unless the springs of the two bells are accuratelyadj usted to operate together and both batteries in perfect condition and of eXactlythe proper strength, the bells will not sound at all,-thus the importance ofthe central conductor 2, which serves vto complete both circuits and insures the proper ringingof both bells.

A switch leverDwill be provided as shown in Fig. 3, so that the bell and battery may be cut out of circuit. When atrain is standing still on a track, this switch lever will be thrown to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, thus cutting the bell and batteryof that train outof circuit. Now, shoulda train approach the standing train from the rear, a current will be established from the battery of the moving train,through the conductors 2, 3, the switch lever D and the bell on the moving train, thus sounding said bell and notifying the engineer on the moving train that a train is standing on the track. When the Standin g train commences to move, the switch D will be opened and the bell thus again thrown into circuit. Should a train be approaching, the bell on the train just starting will be sounded and the engineer will thus be notified that it is unsafe to proceed,owing to the approach of another train in the opposite direction.

If desired, telephones may be inserted in the circuit so that the engineer 011 one train can speak to the engineer on the other train.

In lieu of the wheels 4, 5, 6, metallic brushes may be be employed.

In the place of the switch lever D a conducting bar E may be attached to a rod or 1ever E on the Caboose or any car of the train, and adapted to let down on the conductors so as to close the circuit and thus give back signals to following trains, in case the train has separated-or for other reasons there is no engine,-so that if cars are standing or running on the main track they can give a signal to a rear train by letting down the bar on the conductors, and in case of a wreck, an employe on the train can connect the conductors l, 2, 3 and signa] trains both ways.

If desired the caboose or any car of the train may be provided with brushes or wheels adapted to run on the conductors between the rails, said brushes or wheels having wires running therefrom into the caboose or'car, whereby they can be electrically connected by a conducting bar Within the car.

The devices above described are very simple, cheap to manufacture, easy to apply and effectual in the performance of their functions.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters n Patent is:

l. The combination with three continuous conductors arranged between the rails of a railroad track, of contact devices carried by a train and adapted to make contact with two of said conductors, a contact also carried by the train and adapted to make contact with the other conductor, each of said contacts being adapted to always make contact with the same conductor when the train is running inY one direction, a rheotome bell carried by the train and a battery connected with said rheotome bell and contacts, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with three continuous conductors arranged between therails of a railroad track, wheels carried by a train and adapted to electrically connect two of said conductors, a wheel insulated from the rst mentioned wheels and adapted to make contact with the other conductor, an electric rheotome bell connected with the last mentioned wheel, each contact being adapted to always run on the same conductor when the train is running in one direction, a battery connected' with the electric bell and one of the first mentioned pair of wheels, and a switch adapted to short circuit said bell and battery, substantially as set forth.

3. In asystem of electric railroad signaling, the combination with the tracks of the road and two trains thereof, of three continuous conductors arranged between the tracks, contacts carried by each train and adapted to electrically connect the central conductor with the side conductors respectively, a contact carried by each train and adapted to run.

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on the respective side conductors, a battery carried by each train, one pole of said battery being electrically connected with the single contacts which run on the side conductors,

.and the other poles of said batteries electri-` tral conductor, two rheotome bells, each elec 15 trically connected respectively with the con-l tacts which engage the central cond nctor, and

two batteries, each connected respectively with the single contacts which engage the outer conductors, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK P. SCHLOSSER.

Witnesses:

CHAs. SCHWEND, OLIVER J. MILES. 

